abysmally poor

USAGE SUMMARY

"abysmally poor" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is extremely bad or of very low quality. Example: The service at the restaurant was abysmally poor, leading to many complaints. Alternative expressions include "extremely poor" and "terribly inadequate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Franz grew up "abysmally poor" in Ohio; her father, a first-generation Yugoslav-American, worked at a B. F. Goodrich factory for 36 years, making parts for conveyor belts, but he dreamed of being a famous ballplayer.

The New Yorker

He had been rejected for military service because of abysmally poor eyesight, but in one-four-hundredths of a second — the shutter timing on his Speed Graphic camera — Joe Rosenthal took the most famous photograph of the Second World War.

The New York Times

Moussa Dadis Camara, who seized power along with a group of junior officers after the death of Guinea's longtime president, is only the third man to rule this abysmally poor, perpetually broken nation.

The New York Times

But now, when India has a rapidly growing middle class and a widening elite of the ultra-rich, we must wonder if there is an economic and moral mechanism that will bridge the gap between the ridiculously rich and the abysmally poor.

The New York Times

Witness again Norway and Japan, once abysmally poor.

University of Chicago

The main problem, he says, is that water management in most countries is abysmally poor.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Its trading prices are not made public.Even by the standards of very poor countries, Congo scores abysmally.

The Economist

While metropolitan America surges forward, rural areas continue to be riven by an onslaught of demographic decline, loss of manufacturing jobs, rising poverty, opioid abuse, blight, insufficient capital, anemic investment, poor infrastructure and an abysmally low participation rate in the global digital economy.

The Washington Post

"But it is critical to understand that the root of the problem lies in the lack of access to primary health care, the poor quality of the service and the abysmally low levels of education among the population".

Unicef

Just a few weeks ago, legislators who favor raising the state's abysmally low assigned counsel rates for lawyers who represent the poor inadvertently voted for a budget provision that uses a $20 million increase in court filing fees to pay for the state library and museum.

The New York Times

That figure was abysmally low, even in a nation that is among the poorest of the former Soviet states, and the impact on education quality was readily apparent: in the 2006 and 2009 PISA international comparisons, Kyrgyzstan had ranked dead last.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow "abysmally poor" with specific details that illustrate the extent of the poverty or inadequacy you're describing. For example, "abysmally poor infrastructure" is more impactful when accompanied by statistics or examples.

Common error

Avoid using "abysmally poor" as a catch-all phrase for any negative situation. The phrase is most effective when specifically tied to tangible measures of poverty or inadequacy, such as "abysmally poor healthcare access" or "abysmally poor academic results".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abysmally poor" functions as a compound adjective, modifying a noun to describe something that is extremely deficient or lacking in quality or resources. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Science

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "abysmally poor" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe something of extremely low quality or lacking necessary resources. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for diverse contexts, from news reports to academic discussions. Usage patterns indicate frequent occurrence in news and media, with less common usage in scientific or formal business writing. When using the phrase, ensure clear context and avoid overuse as a generic descriptor, and consider alternatives like "extremely impoverished" or "utterly destitute" to provide nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely impoverished

Replaces "abysmally" with "extremely", focusing on the depth of impoverishment.

desperately poor

Highlights the desperation associated with extreme poverty.

utterly destitute

Emphasizes a complete lack of resources or means.

terribly inadequate

Shifts the focus to inadequacy, implying a severe lack of necessary resources or qualities.

woefully deficient

Indicates a sorrowful or regrettable lack of something.

severely lacking

Highlights a significant absence or shortage.

pathetically meager

Emphasizes the inadequacy of something in a way that evokes pity.

shamefully inadequate

Indicates that the inadequacy is so severe it is shameful.

hopelessly wanting

Highlights the lack of desired or necessary qualities and the lack of hope for improvement.

tragically deficient

Emphasizes a sad lack or shortage.

FAQs

How can I use "abysmally poor" in a sentence?

You can use "abysmally poor" to describe situations where something is extremely lacking or inadequate. For example: "The country's infrastructure was in an "abysmally poor" state." or "The quality of education in that region is "abysmally poor"."

What are some alternatives to "abysmally poor"?

Some alternatives to "abysmally poor" include "extremely impoverished", "desperately poor", or "utterly destitute", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "extremely poor" or "abysmally poor"?

"Abysmally poor" emphasizes a more profound level of inadequacy or poverty than "extremely poor". Use "abysmally poor" when you want to highlight a particularly dire or deficient state.

What's the difference between "abysmally poor" and "shamefully inadequate"?

"Abysmally poor" focuses on the extreme lack of resources or quality, whereas "shamefully inadequate" implies that the inadequacy is so severe that it brings about feelings of shame or embarrassment. Choose based on the intended emphasis.